New York Rangers Get Frolov On Sale

A-Fro needs a new number, Rangers already have a 24.

The New York Rangers have finally added another goal scoring threat to their lineup to be the secondary scorer behind Marian Gaborik. A role that was in sore need of casting, it seems the Ranger’s general manager Glen Sather has actually been paying attention. While he has added a lot of grit and youth to the team this off-season, it seemed that Glen Sather had all but forgotten about the fact that the Rangers were 16th in scoring last season. Alexander Frolov is a 6’2″ Russian with a goal scoring touch, who has scored more than 50 points a season in his last four campaigns. He’s played in one of the most irrelevant hockey cities in the world, and instead of taking the easy (KHL) money, he has decided to come to the world’s most (in)famous arena to display his talents.

Frolov only signed a one year deal worth around 3 million, which is a far cry from the 4 years, 20 million that he left on the table to play in Russia. He could easily fit into top six role, which means he may be featured with Marian Gaborik on the top line, or he may be the star of his own second line. With players like Artem Anisimov, Marian Gaborik, Mats Zuccarello Aasan, Brandon Dubinsky, and Vinny Prospal he should be able to find a couple of linemates he can work with. This signing points to Evgeny Grachev and Derek Steppan being top line players in Hartford this season, but that could be exactly what both players need. There may be more in store for the Rangers prior to training camp, but the way the team is currently built, I see a playoff berth in their future.

There may be some fans out there who worry about this becoming a lot like the year Zherdev had when he became a Ranger two seasons ago. There’s a big difference in this case, and that’s number 10, Marian Gaborik. Frolov will not have to be the Rangers number one threat, like Zherdev was, and that alone should ease his stay on Broadway. Also, coach John Tortorella and Nik Zherdev were forced to deal with each other deep into the season. With Frolov, Torts can actually gameplan around what he has with A-Fro, instead of trying to force a scheme onto the player. Not that this coach is smart enough to do that, but you never know. Did I mention how much better the nickname A-fro is than anything you can do with Zherdev’s name?

Please sign Marc Staal already… PLEASE!

Source: Real GM

Rangers Re-Sign Prust, Former NYR Higgins/Parrenteau Find New Jobs

“In Prust we trust…”

Yesterday Glen Sather and the New York Rangers hired the man considered to be the best fighter in the NHL, Derek Boogard. Today the Rangers re-sign the player with the 3rd most fights in the league last season, and a player who they won the trade with Calgary because of, Brandon Prust. The man is an absolute perfect fourth liner for any NHL team, and he’s in New York for at least the next two seasons, earning $800,000 per year, which is half the price of Boogard, and half the term. Prust is a very similar player to Sean Avery, except with a bit less scoring prowess, and a punch to insult ratio that falls on the punching side of things. So far Sather has signed Biron, Boogard, Christensen, Prospal, Prust, and Stepan, and only one of which could be considered a player that’s being overpaid.

The New York Islanders decided to join in on the free agency fun today. They signed a pair of d-men, Mark Eaton and Milan “Juice” Jurcina. Both players had the pleasure of sharing the ice with the NHL’s poster boys (Crosby/Ovechkin), and neither really stands out. Eaton is certainly more offensively gifted, and has a longer contract (2 yr, 2.5 per), while Jurcina is looking at $1 million for one year. Former New York Ranger, but really Hartford Wolfpack member, P.A. Parenteau is receiving $600 k for a year on the Island. Not to be outdone by the rest of the Atlantic Division, the Islanders also signed former Tampa Bay goon Zenon Konopka for a year at $1 million.

Former trade chip, Ranger, Flame, and Canadien Christopher Higgins is now apparently a Panther. Florida signed Higgins today for one year at the same rate as the Rangers signed Boogard, $1.65 million. Higgins has always been said to have a bit of a problem with certain controlled substances that one might inhale through their nostrils, and even if that’s not true, he’s only scored 20 goals combined in the last three years. Florida claims that he’ll be one of their top six forwards, which says more about how weak their roster is than it does about how talented Higgins is. Only time will tell if he will regain his scoring touch from early in his career, but if not, at least he has a year to binge on the beach.

More NHL free agency madness to come…

NHL Free Agency: Day 1

Unlike the NBA’s version of free agency, things actually happen in the NHL. Today was packed with surprising signings, some good, some atrociously bad. The Atlantic division seems to be the busiest with the Penguins, Devils, Rangers, and to a lesser extent the Flyers making some waves. Of course, the New York Islanders have done absolutely nothing, so I can only imagine how bored their fans were today during all the excitement.

New York Rangers: Not counting the players they added earlier today, which you can read about here, they managed to add the heavyweight champion of the NHL Derek Boogard from the Minnesota Wild. The contract is a bit over the top at 1.65 million a year for four years, but he’s the perfect tag team partner for the Rangers 10th overall pick from the draft Dylan Mcilrath. With nicknames like The Boogieman and The Undertaker respectively, you can imagine the Rangers won’t be seeing their goalie run nearly as much. Boogard is a former teammate of the Rangers second most important player, Marian Gaborik, who I imagine had a hand in this signing. Another Gaborik favorite, Vinny Prospal has also resigned with the Rangers. It’s a one year deal worth a possible 2+ million. The Rangers have managed to sign 2/3 of their top line for less than half of what Gaborik makes, and yet the anti-Sather agenda is still getting pushed.

We’ll see who questions Boogard’s contract while he’s on the ice…

New Jersey Devils: Like the Rangers, the Devils signed a backup goaltender today, there version is named Johan Hedberg. I figured Hedberg actually liked to play hockey, and would sign somewhere he’d be considered a possible number one, but now that he’s behind Marty, chances are he won’t play more than 10 games next season. The Devils added a couple d-men as well, high profile and injury-prone Anton Volchenkov, and Henrik Tallinder. Apparently New Jersey likes to focus on the defensive side of the puck, who knew?

Pittsburgh Penguins: The icebirds decided they were no longer interested in the aging Sergei Gonchar, and they pulled a Glen Sather by signing two players of the exact same position to high salary deals. Paul Martin (5 years, 5 million per) and Zbynek Michalek (5 years, 4 million per). This is a cheaper version of Redden/Rozival from two years ago, and with a logjam at defense, I can imagine some players in Pittsburgh getting overpaid for the time they end up spending on the ice. These two will probably be the Penguins second pair, at best.

Philadelphia Flyers: They sign aging tough guy Jody Shelley from the Rangers (1.1 per 3 years), acquire Andrej Meszaros from Tampa Bay for a 2nd rounder, and resigned Braydon Coburn. I’ve heard some people claim the Flyers are ready to win the cup now that these moves have been made, but those people must not realize how rapidly Shelley has been deteriorating as a player/enforcer.

Calgary Flames: In the ultimate “came crawling back” move of the day, Flames GM Sutter brings back Ollie Jokinen for 2 years at 3 million per. He was also reported to have apologized to the silliest mustache in the business for trading him to the Rangers for two horrible players (Kotalik/Higgins). They also went out and signed Alex Tanguay away from Tampa Bay, who is already declining at 30 years old. The one GM that is considered even more foolish than Glen Sather, Darryl Sutter.

You again?

Vancouver Canucks: In one of the more reasonable contract signings of the day, Dan Hamhuis signed a deal worth 4.5 million a year for the next six years. A player that wanted nothing more than to be a Canuck, and got his wish. The Canucks also gave out the worst contract of the day to Manny Malholtra, a chronic underachiever. 3 years at 2.5 million and a no-move clause. While people are screaming their heads off over the Rangers 1.6 going to Boogard, who literally puts fear into the hearts of other teams, people are acting like this was a smart acquisition. I guess the haters will hate.

Other notables: Sergei Gonchar is taking the money and running with a 5.5 million for 3 year deal with the Ottawa Senators, something the Penguins wouldn’t be could dead giving the man. The Anaheim Ducks brought in Toni Lydman and re-signed Saku Koivu. Toronto Maple Leafs are throwing 3 million a year at Colby Armstrong for the next three years. Antero Niittymaki is the San Jose Sharks’ newest goalie. Former Ranger, and best goalie mask owner, Alex Auld is now a Canadien. Anton Babchuk is returning to the NHL and the Carolina Huricanes for a year. Chicago and Atlanta make another trade together that sends Andrew Ladd to the Thrashers, who will be suffering from quite the Stanley Cup hangover despite not actually winning the Cup. Hotlanta’s Thrashers also signed goalie Chris Mason for the next two seasons. Ray Whitney signs with the Coyotes, as well as Derek Morris re-signing with them.